The age we are living in is greatly marked with scientific inventions and technological revolution. Satellite communication is a unique gift to of modern science. It has both negative and positive sides. No sides can be ignored easily.
The first satellite television signal was relayed from Europe to the North America in 1962. The first national network of satellite television, called Orbita, was created in Soviet Union in 1967. In our country, satellite channels were allowed to broadcast program in 1992. Many of them were Hindi channels. Some of them were English channels and the rest were Arabic channels. Prior to that, the people of Bangladesh used to enjoy the programmes aired by the BTV (Bangladesh Television).
Currently we have many Bengali channels. Besides, the government is giving permission for more Bengali channels. ATN, the first private TV channel, started operation in 1997. Gradually other channels came into being. At present, about 17 local private TV channels are continuously airing programmes upholding our long-cherished culture and tradition.
A good number of people in our country do not appreciate satellite channels at all. But satellite TV channels have their bright sides. There are some very good informative and educative channels like BBC, CNN, Discovery, Nat Geo Wild, Al Jazeera, Animal Planet etc. Watching those channels we can easily widen our realm of knowledge.
Nobody can deny that, the satellite channels are one of the biggest sources of entertainment for the world's people. By the bounty of satellite channels, we can learn about the culture of the world. Besides, we also can learn about the customs and beliefs, arts, ways of life of a particular nation sitting at our home. But we should not imitate the cultural traits of others. To know about another culture is not bad.
Every nation has its own culture and of course, we have a very rich culture about which we can feel proud of. But it is a shocking fact that our culture is now under a great threat because of satellite channels. Actually this is the black corner of the satellite channels.
There is no denying that satellite channels are a great source of our enjoyment but our young generation are so much affected and influenced by those channels that they are trying to practice what they see on the television screen. Forgetting our own tradition and culture they are gradually becoming more prone to the western culture. So, satellite channels are now turning as a threat rather than mere source of enjoyment.
Our young generation enjoys foreign programs with great attraction ignoring our own cultural programs. Besides, they are getting used to the foreign lifestyle also which is actually hostile to our social norms and values. Often they remain glued to Indian channels most of which air music videos that ooze with sexuality. As the students waste most of their time watching that vulgar music on the satellite channels, they harm to their studies and thus ruin their future.
We must have to value our own culture. If we fail to preserve our own culture due to the misuse of satellite channels, it would bring an utter destruction to our social and economic life. We have to take the positive and avoid the negative sides of satellite channels.
